School site in land swap deal costs higher

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan— The 2-hectare property that is being swapped with the old site of the Bayambang Central School (BCS) is worth P9 million-P12 million, way below the value of the 100-year-old campus, which is at least P142 million, a group helping the school’s rehabilitation said.

Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), said documents on the two properties and their market values had been submitted to Congress as lawmakers prepared to look into the land swap deal.

So said a newly acquired lot across the campus was worth P20,000 per square meter, meaning the 3.1-ha old campus’ value could reach P620 million.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) zonal valuation, however, shows the school site, which is along the highway in Barangay Zone II, is worth P142 million, or P4,600 per square meter.

So said the 20,581-square meter property in Barangay Bical, being used as a temporary school, was worth P12 million, at P600 per square meter. However, the BIR valuation in this zone is P435 per square meter, or P8.9 million for the property.

Last year, the town council passed a resolution seeking the temporary transfer of the school, based on a letter from a former president of the school’s parent-teacher association and the school principal, who cited a dengue outbreak and flooding on campus.

In earlier reports, Mayor Ricardo Camacho, who approved the school’s transfer, said the return of BCS to its old site would happen only if the Court of Appeals decided in favor of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Camacho said the regional trial court in San Carlos City had upheld his decision to transfer the school to its new site through an injunction against a DepEd order defying his directive. The DepEd has filed an appeal in the CA.

Camacho transferred the school last year to its new site, which is about 300 meters away from the old campus.

The new campus, which has 69 classrooms in a quadrangle-shaped, two-story building, was built by businessman William Chua in exchange for the school’s old site.

Documents, however, showed that the price of the new campus was lower in the 2010 deed of absolute sale. It showed that Chua paid only P150,000 to the original owner, who was from Bautista town and whose community tax certificate was issued in Bugallon town.

In a copy of the draft deed of exchange, Chua said his property was worth P152 million, including a classroom building and a covered court.

So, however, said the structures should not be included in the deed of exchange.

Sinag led the solicitation of armchairs, tables, desks and blackboards for the old school, which had been ransacked. Parents have also volunteered to repair the school.

So said the repair was being rushed because of Chua’s threat to drive away the school from his property if the town government did not fulfill its promise to turn over the old campus to him.

“If Chua drives the children away, then the old school site will be ready to accommodate them,” So said. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon